Cycle construction



R. S. HEISE. CYCLE CON'STRUT|0N. APPLICATION FILED DEC-I8, 1919.

1,385, 1 29. V Patented y 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1232/6725??? jioscoe JEzlSe,

E -x I R. S. HEISE.

CYCLE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED 056.18, mm.

1,385,129, Patented July 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOSGOE Si HEISE, OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIAMI CYCLE -&(10., OF MIDDLE'I'OWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CYCLE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Application filed December 18, 1919. Serial No. 345,897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rosoon S. Hnisn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Middletown, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Cycle Construction, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in themanufacture of seatposts and seat-post fastenings for cycles; and myprimary objects are to simplify and reduce the cost of manufacture andproduce a more rigid and stable construction. Another object, and thisin connection with the production of the seat-post fastening, is toprovide a construction of fastening whereby the seat-post may beadjusted up or down, at will, easily upon releasing the fastening and beheld rigidly in vertically adjusted position, and against turning, whenthe fastening is adjustedto securing position.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs-- Figure 1 shows by a view inelevation, a seat-post cluster with a seat-post secured therein, all inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially atthe irregular line 22 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3is a view in elevation, with certain parts broken away, of the seat-postand the reinforcing tube surrounding it. Fig. 4 is a view in endelevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view inelevation, with certain parts broken away and others sectioned, of thetwo parts from which the seat-post is formed; and Fig. 6, a perspectiveview of the reinforcing tube shown in Fig. 3.-

In the constructing of the seat-post in accordance with the preferredembodiment of my invention, I provide a seat-post T 7 and a relativelyshort length of steel tubing 8 forming the seat-post stem. The seat-postT 7 is preferably formed of a steel forging, the short angle-section 9thereof being preferably drilled as indicated at 10. The diameter of theportion, 9 of the T and the tube 8, is substantially the same andtheseparts are united together in end-wise abutting relation as shown in Fig.1, in any suitable manner, preferably by the electric welding process.By this method a seat-post may be quickly manufactured and presents ahigh degree of rigidity.

In the particular construction shown, the

lower portion of the stem 8 is formed with a flat part, indicated at 11,for cooperation with the seat-post fastening means hereinafter referredto, this flat part being preferably. produced by flattening the metal ofthe part 8 from a point near its upper end, pref erably to its oppositeextremity, as shown, by subjecting it to the action of a punch press tocause this part of the tube to be depressed substantially as shown inFig. 2, without varying the diameter of the portion of the tube not thusacted upon. In this connection it may be stated that by depressing thetube 8 as stated provision is made not only for a flat surface,cooperating with other parts as hereinafter stated, to fasten theseat-post in position, but the seat-post is actuallystronger than itwould be if not so flattened.

Referring now more particularly to the feature of fastening theseat-post, a cluster fitting is represented at 12, this fitting beinghollow and provided with three lugs 13, 14 and 15. The lug 13 extendsforwardly and generally in a horizontal direction for attachment to therear end of the upper frame bar of the cycle, and the lugs 14 and 15extend downwardly and rearwardly for connection with the upper ends ofthe rear tubes of the frame. The cluster fitting referred to is ofcommon and well-known construction, it being split along its rear side,as indicated, and adapted to be drawn to gether for gripping theseat-post in position, by means of a pinch bolt represented at 16. Thecluster fitting is provided with a tubular reinforcement represented at17 which is brazed, or otherwise united, to the cluster fitting in theposition shown in the drawings, this reinforcement being split along theline 18 throughout its length, the reinforcement 17 adjacent the pinchbolt 16 being cut away, as indicated at 19, to permit the pinch bolt toextend into such position relative to the flattened portion 11 of theseatpost stem that it will engage this flattened portion and prevent theseat-post from turning when the pinch bolt is tightened, the latterbeing preferably formed with a flattened portion 20 which opposes andengages the flattened portion 11. It will be understood that theseat-post stem fits the reinforced cluster construction sufficientlyloosely when the pinch bolt nut 21, is loosened, as to permit theseatpost to be adjusted up and down, but will become firmly clampedthereto by friction when the nut 21 is tightened. The fiat portion 11 onthe seat-post serves, in conjunction with the pinch bolt, to prevent theseatpost from turning, and this resistance to turning is greatlyaugmented by also providing a flat on the pinch bolt. The pinch bolt ispreferably free to rotate slightly and thus upon tightening the nut 21the bolt will rotate until the upper corner of the fiat forcibly bearsagainst the flattened portion 11 of the seat-post, and thus any furtherdownward movementof the seat-post, as, for example, by the weightimposed thereon by the rider, will cause the pinch bolt to act somewhatas an eccentric, automatically gripping the seat-post tighter andpreventing further slippage of the same.

In forming the reinforced cluster 12 the sheet of metal forming the tube17 is preferably bent into a condition wherein its opposed edges meetand in this condition secured to the cluster 12 as explained, the slot18 being then cut in the tube 17 While I have illustrated and describedcertain particular embodiments of my invention and certain particularmethods of manufacture, I do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit my invention thereto, as the structure may be variously modifiedand altered and the manner of manufacture varied, without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A seat-post comprising an angle shaped solid bar and a tubular stem,the said bar having a portion of the metal removed from one of its endsto provide a recess therein the surrounding wall of which is of the samegage and diameter as that of the tubular stem, said recessed end of saidbar and an end of said tubular member being united in endwise abuttingrelation, whereby to form an integral structure for the purpose set)forth.

2. In a cycle construction, the combination of a split cluster fitting,a seat-post extending into said fitting and having a flat portion, and apinch bolt having a flat portion on a side thereof, in said fittingextending transversely of said post and posi tioned to engage at itsfiat portion with said fiat portion of the seat-post.

3. In a cycle construction, the combination of a split cluster fitting,a seat-post extending into said fitting and having a flat portion, and apinch bolt on said fitting oxtending transversely of said post andpositioned to engage said flat portion.

4. In a cycle construction, the combination of a split cluster fitting,a reinforcing split tube provided as a part separate from the frame ofthe cycle and located in said fitting and united therewith and formingthe openin for receiving a seat-post, and means for contracting saidfitting and said reinforcing section.

5. In a seat-post, the combination with a stem formed from a tube havinga portion thereof forced inwardly to provide a depression havingflanking bearing edges, of a securing member formed with a fiat faceadapted to abut against said edges.

6. In a seat-post, the combination with a stem formed from a tube havinga portion thereof forced inwardly to provide a depression havingflanking bearing edges, of a securing member formed with a fiat faceadapted to abut against said edges and extending transversely thereof.

7 In a cycle construction, the combination of a split cluster fitting, areinforcing split tube in said fitting and united therewith and formingthe opening for receiving a seat-post, and means for contracting, saidfitting and said reinforcing section, said reinforcing section having anopening in its side into which a side of said means extends, for thepurpose set forth.

ROSCOE S. HEISE.

